Ye Chen knew his master was powerful after all, the man had flown effortlessly through the skies
but he hadn't expected this. The moment Gu Xuan took his hand, they soared past the clouds, far beyond the earth's atmosphere. In the vast darkness of space, a swirling black hole suddenly emerged in front of them like a silent gate to the unknown.
"Where… are we going?" Ye Chen asked, a hint of unease in his voice. The cold stillness of the void sent shivers down his spine.
Gu Xuan chuckled as if sensing his thoughts. "I suppose I never told you my name," he said, smiling. "I got so caught up, I completely forgot. I'm Gu Xuan. And you are?"
"The student's name is Ye Chen," he replied respectfully.
Gu Xuan nodded with a pleased expression. Around them, lightning bolts began to crackle in the darkness, illuminating the black void in brief flashes. But with a wave of his hand, Gu Xuan formed a glowing blue barrier around them, protecting them from the chaotic energy.
"Where are we now, Master?" Ye Chen asked curiously, glancing around the strange environment.
"This is the Dimensional Space Flow," Gu Xuan explained. "It's a passage that allows us to travel between distant worlds. We're heading to Atar Star. Only those who have reached a certain cultivation level or use special treasures can survive this journey. Otherwise, they'll be torn apart by the lightning storms that run through this space."
Ye Chen nodded slowly, though he barely understood the explanation. Still, he trusted his master.
About half an hour later, the dark tunnel gave way to a new world. In front of them floated a lush green planet, its surface blanketed by dense forests and shimmering lakes. The two descended, landing in a quiet valley surrounded by towering trees. The air here was crisp and refreshing—filled with spiritual energy that made Ye Chen feel more alert than ever before.
"This will be your training ground from now on," Gu Xuan said. "I'll set up some arrays to keep magical beasts away. Don't wander too far while I'm gone."
With that, he flew off into the sky, leaving Ye Chen alone.
Time passed slowly. Ye Chen sat beneath a tree, watching the sky and waiting patiently. Minutes turned to hours, and Gu Xuan still hadn't returned. Doubt crept in.
What if Master left me here? What if this is some kind of test?
Just as his anxiety reached its peak, a streak of blue light appeared above. Gu Xuan had returned.
"Master!" Ye Chen called, getting to his feet. He tried to approach, but an invisible force stopped him in place.
"Don't move," Gu Xuan instructed calmly. "I'm activating the formation."
Blue light burst from his body, rising into the sky. In four directions far off in the distance, four matching lights responded. With a booming sound, they surged toward Gu Xuan and collided with the light around him.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
A giant dome of blue energy formed in the sky, stretching hundreds of miles across, and slowly descended until it encompassed the entire valley.
"All spiritual energy within a 200-mile radius will now gather here," Gu Xuan said. "Perfect for your cultivation."
Ye Chen was still struggling to understand what "spiritual energy" or "Qi" even meant. Gu Xuan noticed the confusion on his face and chuckled.
"Ah, that's right. I've been doing things out of order," he muttered. "Before cultivating, you must choose a technique."
With a wave of his sleeve, an ancient stone building appeared before them. It had three floors, its exterior covered in moss and strange runes.
"This building holds a collection of low-tier cultivation techniques. Since you're just starting out, it's best to begin with the basics," Gu Xuan said, walking to the front door. Ye Chen followed closely behind.
As the door creaked open, Ye Chen's eyes widened. Scrolls and books lined every shelf in sight.
"Pick whichever one feels right to you," Gu Xuan said. "But remember, understanding a cultivation technique isn't easy. The higher the level, the harder it is to comprehend. You must build your foundation first."
"Master," Ye Chen asked hesitantly, "don't you have any high-level techniques?"
Gu Xuan let out a hearty laugh. "You think I'd give a divine-grade technique to someone who hasn't even opened their meridians yet? Be patient. Strength comes step by step."
Realizing the truth in his words, Ye Chen began scanning the shelves. He flipped through scrolls with titles like Iron Body Manual, Falling Leaf Palm, and Qi Circulation Basics. But none of them called out to him.
Then, in a dusty corner of the first floor, his eyes fell upon a thick scroll wrapped in chains.
"Master, what's this one? Why is it chained up?" he asked.
Gu Xuan glanced over and narrowed his eyes. "That? I found it years ago during one of my travels. It's sealed, and no matter what I tried, I couldn't unlock it. I have no idea what level the technique is, so I just left it here."
Strangely, Ye Chen felt drawn to it as if an invisible force was pulling him forward. He reached out.
The moment his fingers touched the scroll, a burning sensation spread across his chest.
He looked down and saw his necklace his grandfather's keepsake glowing with blinding light. At the same time, the chains wrapped around the scroll began to tremble.
Crack… Crack…
The chains snapped apart, one by one. The scroll floated into the air, spinning rapidly as its pages flipped open on their own.
Gu Xuan's expression changed dramatically. "What?!"
Before he could react, a surge of white light exploded from the scroll, enveloping the room. The force slammed into Gu Xuan like a tidal wave and flung him out of the building.
He tumbled through the air and crashed to the ground outside. When he looked up, the doors to the building were sealed shut, covered by a shimmering barrier.
Even with his near-Realm King strength, he couldn't break through it.
Inside the building, Ye Chen stood alone as the scroll hovered in front of him, glowing with ancient light.
Whatever this technique was ...it had chosen him.